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International Child Health Group
G266 Stillbirth prevention – A call for paediatricians to be advocates
  1. ZU Qureshi1,
  2. H Blencowe2,3,
  3. A Amouzou4,
  4. C Calderwood5,
  5. S Cousens2,
  6. V Flenady6,
  7. JF Fr…en7,
  8. D Hogan8,
  9. FB Jassir2,
  10. M Mathai9,
  11. C Mathers8,
  12. EM McClure10,
  13. S Shiekh2,
  14. P Waiswa11,
  15. D You4,
  16. JE Lawn2,3
  1. 1Department of Global Health, University College London, London, UK
  2. 2Maternal Reproductive and Child Health Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
  3. 3Saving Newborn Lives, Save the Children, New York, USA
  4. 4Division of Data, Research and Policy, United Nations Children’s Fund, New York, USA
  5. 5William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
  6. 6Mater Hospital, Brisbane, Australia
  7. 7Department of International Public Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
  8. 8Department of Information, Evidence and Research, World Health Organisation, Geneva, Switzerland
  9. 9Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health, World Health Organisation, Geneva, Switzerland
  10. 10Research Triangle Institute, Durham, USA
  11. 11School of Public Health, Makerere Univeristy, Kampala, Uganda

Abstract

Aims Stillbirths have low priority in global health, despite at least half being preventable with achievable care. Reduction has recently become a priority in the UK, with Department of Health calls to half UK stillbirth rates (SBR) by 2030. These are supported by the RCPCH, with improving fetal health being associated with improved child health. We aimed to estimate the 2015 global burden of stillbirth to help inform policy towards reduction as part of the Lancet Ending Preventable Stillbirth Series.

Methods Available data for stillbirths was reviewed (vital registration, national registries, surveys, literature and an investigator group), generating new national estimates for 195 countries. Analysis of stillbirth risk factors, timings, and the acceleration needed in SBR reduction to meet the Every Newborn Action Plan (ENAP) 2030 target of ≤12 stillbirths per 1000 births in each country by 2030 were undertaken.

Results Date available covered 500 million births from 160 countries. An estimated 2.6 million stillbirths occurred in 2015, with 1.3 million occurring during labour, and ten countries accounting for two-thirds of stillbirths (Figure 1). There has been an average annual rate of reduction (ARR) in stillbirth of 2% since 2000, compared to 3% for maternal mortality, and 4.5% for post-neonatal under-5 mortality. To reach the 2030 targets, progress in SBR reduction will have to double (ARR of 4.3%), with even greater progress required in the highest burden settings (Figure 2).

Abstract G266 Figure 1
Abstract G266 Figure 1
Abstract G266 Figure 2
Abstract G266 Figure 2

Stillbirths are strongly linked to poor maternal and fetal health, with potentially modifiable factors identified such as malaria (population attributable fraction (PAF) 8·2%), syphilis (7·7%), obesity (10%), smoking (1.7%), maternal age >35 years (6·7%) and prolonged pregnancy (14.0%). Stillbirths frequently ensue because of fetal growth restrictions and/or preterm labour. Congenital abnormalities only accounted for 7.4% of stillbirths.

Conclusions Preventable stillbirths represent the extreme end of fetal pathology that leads to significant childhood morbidity and mortality. Our new estimates will contribute to efforts to measure progress in SBR reduction worldwide, and inform evidence-based policy to improve child health. Paediatricians are increasingly advocating for stillbirth reduction, with wider benefits in improving neonatal and developmental outcomes from improving prenatal fetal health increasingly clear.

https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2016-310863.258

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